Caitlin

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Mechanical Engineering/ International Relations

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? I really love reading food blogs and trying out recipes, but I can never seem to get things right! My boyfriend knows dinner is ready when the smoke alarm goes off…needless to say, I could use some help getting the basics down. Nevertheless, I have the interest and enthusiasm to try new things and spend some time in the kitchen. I would really like to be able to cook for my friends and family without fearing a Bridget Jones-esque blue soup disaster.

What is your least favourite thing to eat and why? Soup. Generally served before a meal, and I always find it fills me up before I even get to the main course – which in my mind, is always far more exciting.

If you could learn to cook one dish what would it be? Roasted chicken. Just seems like way too much of a risk in case I somehow manage to destroy it. Too high of expectations. Would be amazing if I could pull it off though! Also a pie – I have never made a crust myself and it just seems like on of those things everyone should have up their sleeve. Strawberry rhubarb in the ideal case.

Any last words? I love love love reading food blogs (yours included), but the beautiful dishes that are presented always seem to elude me. I can get close – but not quite there. I feel confident that this class could give me the boost I need to make blog-photo and drool worthy dishes to delight my boyfriend and family.

Following Canadian food blogger BS’ In The Kitchen

Raphael

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Political Science

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? I’ve always wanted to improve my cooking skills and this seems like a really fun way to do that. Also, it would make my mom so happy (she lives in perpetual fear that my future wife will leave me because I can’t cook).

What is your least favourite thing to eat? Anything with copious amounts of broccoli!

How would you describe your level of cooking expertise? Negligible. My mom has taught me to make some things like roti or appom (indian pancakes), but usually when I need to cook I stick to Pizza pops or instant noodles.

Any last words? I’m trying (with mixed results) to diet at the moment. Learning to cook foods that are both tasty yet non-fattening would be very cool as well.

Following Canadian food blogger Gourmet Fury

Ramez

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Mechanical Engineering.

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? Well….I’ll be honest, people get scared when I get into the kitchen, but when it comes to KD [or] barbequeing, I feel good. I’d like to improve my culinary skills to one day be able to nourish myself and, maybe (if they let me), the people around me.

This seems like an interesting opportunity for myself to learn to cook. I’m looking forward to the experience and if I make the cut (which was often not the case for high school dodgeball) then I’ll make sure to be a good sport in return for some good cooking lessons.

What is your least favourite thing to eat and why? I will eat almost anything. To be honest, I love food. It has become my companion when I am alone and I’m going to end this sentence as I don’t know where else to go with it.

If you could learn to cook one dish what would it be? An amazing chicken breast dish with a side of pasta and perhaps some vegetables.

Any last words? Let’s get ‘er done! I’m looking forward to this class.

Following Canadian food blogger Kitchen Scraps

Laura

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Marketing.

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? I have no applicable cooking skills! I’m moving out this summer and I’m really hoping to skip the “eating out for a week” and “cooking frozen dinners” part. I love eating healthy, but I honestly don’t know how to cook healthy.

How would you describe your level of cooking expertise? I am a culinary idiot. The extent of my knowledge goes as far as chopping, dicing, and frying an egg (and I sometimes can’t even do that!).

If you could learn to cook one dish what would it be? I would love to be able to make a huuuge vegetarian lasagna. Everything would be made from scratch. Every. thing.

Which Calgary restaurant(s) do you go to regularly? Tim Horton’s (does that count?), The Coup, Cora’s, Nellie’s…Clearly, I love breakfast food.

Any last words? This is a such a good idea. I really think that everyone, not just young people, should have an opportunity to get away from fast and cheap food and learn about the local, organic, MUCH healthier food that’s being offered closer to home!

Following Canadian food blogger Dan’s Good Side

Tara

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Business and Kinesiology.

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? I love, love, love to cook, and love to eat even more. Yet I have limited time to do it, and am absolutely, positively, extremely slow at it! I’d really like to learn to pick up the pace in the kitchen. My boyfriend jokes about my inability to treat cooking with reckless abandon, as the Dalai Lama suggests. Feeling confident in deviating from recipes is something I could work on too!

How would you describe your level of cooking expertise? Beginner to intermediate. Yet if the speed at which one can whip together a meal is an indicator of cooking expertise, I’d rate myself as “snail-like”.

If you could learn to cook one dish what would it be? I once tried a lemongrass soup from a Thai restaurant in the States that changed my life. If I could learn to cook a vegetarian version… I would be so happy.

Which Calgary restaurant(s) do you go to regularly? I don’t eat out too often, but The Coup on 17th Ave has been my favourite Calgary restaurant for years, even before I became a vegetarian. Everyone who is friends with me has been there at least once. I recently discovered Mango Shiva on Stephen Ave, which I go to when I’m feeling rich.

Any last words? I’m a huge fan of food [and] cooking. I’d love to be a part of this experience.

Following Canadian food blogger OMG Veg!

Alyssa

Dan    Ask Dan    

What’s your major? Communications.

Why did you want to take part in Kick The KD? As much as I love KD with Frank’s, I could totally use some cooking lessons.

How would you describe your level of cooking expertise? On a scale of
1 to 10, 1 being “intermediate toast maker” and 10 being “risotto extraordinaire”…I would put myself at a 5 or 6.

If you could learn to cook one dish what would it be? Peppercorn roasted pork and gravy with potatoes and carrots.

Which Calgary restaurant(s) do you go to regularly? I try not to go out that much, but when I do it’s about quality: NOtaBLE, Farm, and The Lazy Loaf and Kettle.

Any last words? This would be an incredible experience for me as I’ve been known to state how much I dislike cooking and I think it’s just because I don’t know what I’m doing or have enough confidence in the art. I appreciate food and am a whiz at baking, so I would love to take this creativity and passion into something more everyday.

Following Canadian food blogger Dinner With Julie